Head Coach Alan Koch made four changes to the FC Cincinnati starting lineup ahead of Saturday night’s match at the New York Red Bulls.
Emmanuel Ledesma replaces Darren Mattocks up top, while, Kekuta Manneh returns to the starting lineup for Allan Cruz.
Justin Hoyte replaces Alvas Powell in the backline, but will play left back instead of right. Matheiu Deplagne will slot in on the right side.
In goal, Przemysław Tytoń replaces Spencer Richey.
About those changes
Tytoń returns to the starting lineup for the first time since the season opener on March 2 at Seattle Sounders FC. Spencer Richey had played every minute since. Tytoń had a hamstring concern that he’d been dealing with all through preseason and after the first game proved to be an opportune time to shut him down and give him time to get properly healed.
Ledesma will make his first appearance in more than a month. He started in the 1-0 win at the New England Revolution but then picked up a hamstring injury in training and has been working his way back since.
Hoyte will make his second start this season. His first was at LAFC on April 13, that game lining up on the right side. Additionally, Manneh makes his first start since that match in California after coming off the bench in the last outing against Real Salt Lake.
Notes about the bench
Koch will have some attacking options on the bench, namely Darren Mattocks and Allan Cruz.
With Ledesma back healthy and getting the start, Mattocks being fresh for insertion later in the match could be an added boost for the club with his speed and nose for goal.
Cruz will start on the bench for the first time this season. He’s made six starts but has missed one match. He traveled but didn’t dress at Seattle and missed the New England game while on international duty with the Costa Rica National Team.
As stated above, Richey is back as a substitute after seven-straight starts in goal.
The others on the bench are Powell, Caleb Stanko, Forrest Lasso and Eric Alexander.
Greg Garza (calf) remained back in Cincinnati to continue rehabbing the slight knock he picked up the day the team traveled to LAFC. Fanendo Adi was reinstated by MLS on Wednesday night and returned to team training on Thursday, but did not travel to New York with the team. Corben Bone did not travel with a shoulder injury.
